Talk about a strange bulletin work is -- out tonight that some stores are putting those big jugs of tide detergent not a kind of locked down. It all happened after a police press conference announcing that tide is playing a big role in the national crime way. So what's going on here's ABC's senior Justice Department correspondent Pierre Thomas. It's not unusual to see security -- and high priced items but laundry detergent. In stores across the country retailers are trying to stem a new tide of crime and -- literally locking up the tie it. Don't believe me. You watching surveillance of a man Minnesota police say. Is responsible for shoplifting 25000. Dollars with a -- it. Which -- become a kind of liquid gold this is one of the top products that reduce the stolen from our stores -- -- mean this is an executive at Supervalu. One of the largest grocery conglomerates in the country -- 111000 stores. These are Brees then. Thieves who are looking at the cost of the item and what they can get for it -- are retail crime syndicates whether the economy is good or bad. It's individuals who are trying to make a quick buck and police say the -- typically retailing at ten to twenty dollars. Is a hot commodity on the street. Words total on the cheap and sometimes even -- for drugs -- as a staple item everybody uses it daily and day out. In this most popular brands so they can move -- a lot of money. You can find it offered -- an Internet shopping site at cut rate prices stars like CVS of developing countermeasures like those -- we showed you. And some police department are even setting up task forces and it's gotta be clean and got a big guy. Apparently for criminals no other brand we'll do. Pierre Thomas ABC news Washington.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

Tide Laundry Detergent Thefts on the Rise in Minnesota

Police warn of a new trend of stealing laundry detergent.

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